A BURY teacher has been crowned Barnardo's Lancashire Woman of the Year.

Jo Venn taught as head of religion at Bury Church of England High School, Haslam Brow, before moving on to Liverpool, and is now headteacher at Balshaw's High School in Leyland.

Jo, who still lives in Bury, was officially crowned on Wednesday by the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Gail Stanley, for transforming the Leyland school, which now ranks third out of 113 Lancashire high schools.

After leaving Bury Church, Jo became deputy head of Archbishop Blanch School in Liverpool in the wake of the Toxteth riots.

Since 1976, she has been a Sunday school teacher, superintendent and youth leader. In 2000, her contribution to education, the community and diocese was recognised when she became a Lay Canon of Blackburn Cathedral.

Shirley Kewley, the event organiser, said: "We received so many letters of commendation for Jo's nomination from past and present teaching colleagues, members of the clergy, parents and pupils from Lancashire, Yorkshire and even Pakistan."

All proceeds from the event will help Barnardo's work in Lancashire.